Three assets put you in a class of your own: world class technical knowledge, historical perspective gained from working in the field, and excellent writing. I am glad to have found your web site. -- Hunter Bailey

I have been following the news and reviews on your website for some time now and I have to admit to many hours of informative reading. -- Aart Merkelijn

A note to tell you that your review of Fujitsu's tablet pc T4010 is one of the best I have read. -- Catherine Perry

Wow. I suppose I should just get used to your reviews being so
comprehensive, but I find that I'm stunned every time I read one. -- one of our sponsors

Thanks for all of your efforts to help us market our products. Your site provides us with very valuable web traffic and leads. -- one of our sponsors

Janam launches XG3 with AndroidJanam Technologies announced that its XG3 rugged mobile computer is now available with Android, making for a secure, flexible and collaborative platform to help organizations work smarter and faster. The XG3 is a gun-shaped rugged mobile computer designed from scratch as a workhorse based on tried-and-true, yet technologically up-to-date, technology, and capable of handling substantial abuse on the job. The XG3's 3.5-inch screen is super-sharp (229 ppi), the gun-style form factor is optimal for many applications, and the XG3 is available with industrial-grade 1D or 1D/2D integrated scanning. The availability of Android adds a secure, rich and familiar user experience option that may well enhance productivity at the point of activity. [See Janam media release and Janam XG3 product page] -- Posted Thursday, December 8, 2016

GammaTech DURABOOK S15AB with large 15.6-inch screenWhen it comes to laptops, sometimes nothing other than a really big screen will do. GammaTech reminds that its DURABOOK S15AB is currently the only 15.6-inch semi-rugged notebook on the market. RuggedPCReview examined the S15AB in detail earlier this year, found it an exceptionally well constructed machine with very good performance from its Intel Broadwell processor, full-shift battery life, and we loved that large, bright, semi-matte display. [See GammaTech media release and our full review of the DURABOOK S15AB] -- Posted Thursday, December 8, 2016

JLT Mobile selected by Poland's largest container facilityJLT Mobile Computers announced it has delivered 47 of its JLT VERSO+ 10 rugged mobile vehicle computers to the new T2 deep-water terminal at DCT Gdansk in Poland, the nation's largest container facility, and the only deep-water terminal in the Baltic Sea region. The rugged mobile vehicle computers, supplied by JLT partner Autepra, have been installed on Kalmar T2 terminal tractors. Running the Navis N4 Terminal OS, they are part of DCT's effort to open a second 650 meter deep-water berth at the T2 terminal, which will double the handling capacity of DCT Gdansk. [See JLT Mobile media release and JLT VERSO+ 10 product page] -- Posted Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Draeger's supermarkets increases profitability with Janam mobile computersJanam Technologies announced that Draeger’s Supermarkets, an upscale grocery chain in one of the most tech-savvy cities in the United States, has deployed XG3 rugged mobile computers from Janam to improve inventory management in its grocery and housewares departments. Equipped with Zebra’s SE965 laser scan engine, Janam’s XG3 provides Draeger’s with rapid and accurate barcode scanning to drastically reduce the time needed to complete in-store tasks. Utilizing a custom Wavelink Terminal Emulation client designed especially for Janam’s XG3, Draeger’s provides mobile workers with access to applications residing on their host system, while ensuring productivity is optimized. [See Janam media release] -- Posted Thursday, December 1, 2016

Full review: MobileDemand Cherry Trail-powered xTablet T8650 with Intel RealSense 3D camera systemMobileDemand has a long track record of offering new and interesting rugged tablet PC products, and the 8-inch Intel Cherry Trail-based xTablet T8650 is no different. It's a tough, handy and versatile Windows 10 tablet that — thanks to its Intel RealSense 3D camera system — can also be used as a pilot and test bed for bleeding edge 3D data capturing and manipulation technology. RuggedPCReview conducted a detailed analysis of the T8650 and its unique camera. [See full review of the MobileDemand xTablet T8650] -- Posted Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Case study: Meat distribution company improves quality control in refrigerated storage facilitiesEven small environmental changes can make an enormous difference when it comes to food preservation. For food distributors, a storage and transportation climate that's just one degree too warm or a few percentage points too dry can compromise the quality of deliverables — and impact revenue. Fridosa is Bolivia's largest meat-product exporter. Its offerings include cuts of meat, burgers, breaded meat, sausages and potato snacks. They chose the Handheld Group's Nautiz X3 to improve quality control in refrigerated storage facilities. [Read Turning a Cool Profit with Rugged Mobile Computers — A meat distribution company improves quality control in refrigerated storage facilities] -- Posted Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Sharp, clear web imagesRuggedPCReview readers who view our site on a modern tablet, smartphone or high resolution monitor have probably noticed that many images on RuggedPCReview.com are noticeably crisper and sharper than those on the vast majority of websites. Why is that? It's because earlier in 2016 we started serving images in both standard and high resolution. That way, if your browser automatically detects that you're viewing a page on a device with a high resolution display, it'll serve a high resolution image. If you're viewing it on a standard display, it'll load a standard resolution picture. Let me explain... [read article] -- Posted Wednesday, November 30, 2016

ARBOR introduces BIOS Anti-Crash TechnologyARBOR Technology introduced their BIOS ACT, an anti-crash technology aimed at enabling embedded devices and solutions to restart in case of a system BIOS failure. In general, if the BIOS gets corrupted for whatever reason, or gets damaged during a system update, the device becomes unable to boot. If that happens, ARBOR's BIOS ACT technology will automatically recover BIOS code from a secondary on-board flash. [See ARBOR media release] -- Posted Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Industry 4.0: The Making of the Mobile Information Worker Like IoT, the Internet of Things, the term "Industry 4.0" is talked about a lot these days. In essence, Industry 4.0 describes a world where intelligent networked systems go beyond mere machine control via feedback systems, interdisciplinary cooperation, IoT technology, and advanced resource/demand management to morph into "intelligent" or at least "smart" factories. Where does that leave workers? Xplore's latest blog describes how we're seeing a rise in "information workers" who are valued for their capacity to make better-informed decisions and take more meaningful actions to improve the quality and efficiency of increasingly specialized manufacturing operations. [Read "Industry 4.0: The Making of the Mobile Information Worker"] -- Posted Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Added: Fujitsu Stylistic V535 rugged Windows tabletFujitsu was among the tablet computing pioneers in the early 1990s, and remained a market leader with its innovative Point, PenCentra and Stylistic Tablet PC designs for many years. Their current rugged tablet offering is the Intel Bay Trail-powered 8.3-inch Stylistic V535 Windows tablet that features a very interesting expansion "shell" system as well as multi-modal input. [See RuggedPCRewview's description, analysis and specs of the Fujitsu Stylistic V535] -- Posted Tuesday, November 29, 2016

ICEE Company picks Getac T800 rugged tablet to streamline sales, service, trainingGetac reports that the ICEE Company will provide its service technicians and sales reps with Getac's fully rugged T800 tablets to streamline work management processes and conduct remote online training with field staff, reducing the need for service center visits and maximize the time with customers. ICEE selected the Getac T800 because it provided a single solution to the computing and communication needs of its field staff. Beyond capturing service data, the device needed to be rugged, incorporate a fast processor, include a large viewing screen in a small form factor, and a variety of integrated features necessary for field work. [See Getac media release and RuggedPCReview's analysis of the Getac T800] -- Posted Tuesday, November 29, 2016

U.S. Army expands deployment of DT Research ultra-rugged tablets to third facilityDT Research announced the U.S. Army continues to expand the use of the DT311 series Ultra Rugged Tablets into additional army facilities to support training missions and other logistics. This is the third Rugged Tablet contract that the U.S. Army has awarded DT Research this year. "We are honored to have the U.S. Army choose our Rugged Tablets again," said Daw Tsai Sc.D., president of DT Research. "The U.S. Army has strict requirements for advanced durability, powerful computing, robust connectivity, and fully integrated data capture options for the Rugged Tablets they use. We are proud to meet these high standards and deliver a specialized tool that will serve the U.S. Army well in their diverse environments." [See DT Research media release and RuggedPCReview's description, analysis and specs of the DT311 Series] -- Posted Monday, November 28, 2016

Review: faytech IP65-sealed capacitive 15" Touch PCfaytech's goal is to provide German quality and organization at pricing made possible through manufacturing in China. RuggedPCReview.com had a chance to analyze and test the 15-inch version of faytech's Intel quad-core Celeron J1900-powered IP65-sealed, fanless, high-bright, industrial-grade capacitive Touch PC. And we did a brief profile of this very interesting company. [See review of the faytech 15-inch Touch PC] -- Posted Wednesday, November 23, 2016

BARTEC partners with Winmate to release HazLoc ATEX / IECEx Zone 1 and CID1-certified tabletElectrical equipment operating in hazardous locations where flammable gases, vapors, or dusts occur must be designed so that it does not cause ignition or explosions. German BARTEC has been working with Winmate to create a line of rugged Windows tablets certified for use in Zone 2 and Zone 1 locations. The new sunlight-readable 10.1-inch, Intel Braswell-powered BARTEC Agile X IS tablet PC provides not only HazLoc ATEX / IECEx Zone 1 and CID1 certification, but also offers unique features such as built-in scanner, hot-swappable battery in HazLoc areas, direct USB access in Zone 1, and an expansion port system. [See BARTEC and RuggedPCReview's description, analysis and specs of the BARTEC Agile X IS] -- Posted Friday, November 18, 2016

Xplore rugged Android tablet chosen for underwater vehicle HMIXplore Technologies announced that Strategic Robotic Systems (SRS) has exclusively selected the Xplore XSLATE D10 Rugged Tablet use in an intuitive Human Machine Interface to control its new hybrid FUSION underwater vehicle. FUSION was designed for mine countermeasure, explosive ordinance disposal and other military inspection tasks, as well as search and rescue or body recovery operations. [See Xplore media release and SRS FUSION page] -- Posted Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Zebra introduces TC5 Series of enterprise-class touch computersZebra Technologies introduced the TC5 Series of "touch mobile computers." Looking like modern smartphones, the 5-inch capacitive touch Android-based handhelds bring industrial-grade scanning, enterprise-class durability, hexa-core Snapdragon 650 power, as well as as enhanced security to the table. Zebra offers configurations with or without Android for Work and the Google Mobile Services. [See Zebra media release and RuggedPCReview's description, analysis and specs of the Zebra TC5 Series] -- Posted Monday, November 14, 2016

Xplore reports their fiscal Q2/2017 financialsXplore Technologies reported Q2 financials for its fiscal year 2017. Revenue was US$20.0 million compared to US$16.5 million in Q1/2017 and US$28.85 million for fiscal Q2/2016. Xplore reported a net loss of US$536,000 compared to a net income of US$403,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2015. The revenue decrease compared to the same quarter last year resulted from softer sales in Europe and timing of customer shipments. Xplore chairman and CEO Philip Sassower said "Fiscal second quarter revenue increased 21% sequentially on rising shipments while operating costs declined significantly, placing Xplore firmly on track for profitability in the second half of this year." [See Xplore media release] -- Posted Friday, November 11, 2016

Motorola Solutions completes acquisition of Spillman TechnologiesMotorola Solutions announced that it has completed its acquisition of Spillman Technologies, a provider of law enforcement and public safety software solutions for computer-aided dispatch (CAD) and records management systems (RMS). Spillman provides public safety software to more than 1,700 agencies throughout the US. In addition to CAD and RMS, Spillman offers an integrated suite of comprehensive software solutions and next-generation tools for jail management systems, fire, mobile data, data sharing, field reporting, mapping and geographic information systems. [See Motorola Solutions media release] -- Posted Thursday, November 10, 2016

Getac V110 on TV hit series The BlacklistIt's always good to see rugged mobile technology in action in movies and on TV. The picture to the right shows a Getac V110 rugged convertible notebook used by the bad guys in Season 4, Episode 4 of NBC's hit series The Blacklist. Powered by Intel 6th generation "Skylake" processors and easily convertible from laptop to tablet, the powerful, versatile V110 helped the bad guys almost get away (hardly anyone ever gets away from the combined might of Raymond Reddington (James Spader) and the FBI. -- Posted Tuesday, November 8, 2016

What happened in rugged computing 5 years ago: November 2011In November 2011, PD DisplaySearch predicted that the average resolution of tablet PC displays would grow to more than 200 pixels per inch (ppi) in Q2'12. We analyzed the status and outlook for rugged Android devices. We reviewed the GD Itronix GD8200 rugged notebook, the Fujitsu Lifebook T731, and the Fujitsu Stylistic Q550. Intermec reported Q3 2011 sales of US$212 million and a small profit. RuggedPCReview previewed Windows 8 and drew parallels to Microsoft's earlier attempts at spreading FUD in the light of emerging tablet technologies. Xplore announced a 4,000 unit order for its new iX104C5 rugged tablet, AMREL announced three new rugged laptops, Wyze bought Trellia, Winmate released the E430T industrial PDA, and Panasonic launched the Toughpad in a major event at Dallas Cowboy Stadium. [See RuggedPCReview November 2011 archives] -- Posted Monday, November 7, 2016

Panasonic upgrades Toughpad FZ-G1 Windows tabletPanasonic announced it has updated its 10.1-inch Toughpad FZ-G1 Windows tablet. Initially introduced early 2013, Panasonic's Toughpad FZ-G1 was upgraded from Intel 4th generation "Haswell" to 6th generation "Skylake" processor technology. Now equipped with a 2.4GHz Core i5-6300U processor with Intel HD Graphics 520, the G1 also gets Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 WiFi, solid state storage up to 512GB, and a water-proof digitizer pen. Battery life with the standard battery is now up to 14 hours. The FZ-G1 starts at US$2,899. -- Posted Monday, November 7, 2016

Quo Vadis, rugged handheld market?Rugged handhelds are a roughly US$3 billion market that hasn't been growing as of late, initially because legacy Microsoft OS platforms were stranded, then because of uncertainty over Android, and now over uncertainty on whether to go with Windows 10 IoT Mobile Enterprise (whew! what a name!) or Android. Microsoft's vision of universal apps hasn't taken off as of yet, and there's increasing competition from inexpensive and increasingly better sealed smartphones. VDC Research published a new report on overall market opportunity for rugged handheld devices that can shed some light on things, both challenges and opportunities. [See executive brief of VDC's The Global Market for Rugged Handheld Computers and Smartphones for Line-of-Business Application -- Posted Friday, November 4, 2016

SMART High Reliability Solutions announces HRS-M1 highly ruggedized MLC Solid State DisksSMART High Reliability Solutions — which specializes in ruggedized, high-performance and high-capacity solid-state drives for defense, aerospace and industrial markets — announced its HRS-M1 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s SSD. The HRS-M1 is packaged in a high strength, industrial enclosure to protect it from harsh elements. It's MIL-STD-810-tested for shock and vibration at extreme operating temperatures of -40°C to +85°C. The HRS-M1 can handle operation at altitudes up to 80,000 feet, and comes in capacities up to 1.92 TB. [See Smart HRS media release] -- Posted Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Intel releases Atom E3900 series of IoT-centric processorsIntel introduced the Atom E3900 series of processors. Unlike the E3800 series that has seen use in many rugged and vertical market devices, the E3900 is clearly targeted at IoT applications in video, industrial and automotive applications. The chips offer more advanced video, can support up to 15 1080p30 video inputs(!), and include specific IoT features such as enhanced security, and synchronization via what Intel calls "Time Coordinated Computing Technology." TDP is in the 6 to 12 watt range, and the chips are expected to be used in a very wide range of IoT "edge" devices. [See Intel's Atom E3900 fact sheet] -- Posted Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Exclusive: First full review of the 12.5-inch, Intel Kaby Lake-powered rugged Xplore XSLATE R12Xplore Technologies announced the Xplore XSLATE R12 rugged tablet for those who need a larger display in a tablet that's tough enough to go anywhere AND delivers blistering performance. Think full HD 12.5-inch capacitive display AND Wacom pen, 2.7/3.5 GHz "Kaby Lake" i7-7500U processor, and excellent connectivity. In an exclusive, RuggedPCReview puts the XSLATE R12 though its paces and finds much to like. [See Xplore media release and RuggedPCReview's full review of the Xplore XSLATE R12] -- Posted Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Rugged JLT VERSO 12 mobile computers keep containers moving during hottest Middle-Eastern summer temperatures at Basra Gateway Terminal in IraqJLT Mobile Computers announced that it has successfully delivered 50 JLT VERSO 12 mobile computers to the Basra Gateway Terminal. BGT is operated by terminal operator International Container Terminal Services Inc., and is Iraq’s premier container and multi-purpose cargo handling facility at the port of Umm Qasr. This order represents the third port in the ICTSI group that uses JLT mobile computers, following major design wins at Baltic Container Terminal (BCT) in Gdynia, Poland, and Batumi International Container Terminal (BICTL) in Batumi, Georgia. The JLT computers are operated with new equipment including reach stackers, terminal tractors, and forklifts. [See JLT Mobile media release] -- Posted Monday, October 24, 2016

Handheld on track with major orders to European railwaysHandheld Group announced major wins with two European railways. The projects are valued at more than $2 million over the next 12 months. Each of the two railways selected a separate device — one opted for a NAUTIZ handheld device, and the other chose an ALGIZ rugged tablet solution. Both projects involve hardware, accessories and services. Project deliveries have already begun and are expected to continue over the next 12 to 18 months. [See Handheld Group media release] -- Posted Thursday, October 20, 2016

CipherLab USA announces strategic partnership with Serialio.comCipherLab USA announced a partnership with Serialio.com in offering an inventory and tracking system for reusable and recyclable assets. Inventory inaccuracy within the retail value chain is found in a wide range of processes such as transaction errors, shrinkage errors, supply errors, theft and more, which costs companies millions of dollars each year. The platform developed by Serialio.com and CipherLab USA provides users with an end-to-end solution including the CipherLabs 1862 Bluetooth UHF RFID reader and Serialio.com’s cloud-based software that allows configuring workflows to specific user needs and demands. -- Posted Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Added: Ubiqconn MT7000 all-in-one in-vehicle terminal for emerging vehicular IoT applicationsWith emerging IoT solutions coming on strong, we're seeing a large number of new IoT building blocks. An example is the elegant new Ubiqconn MT7000, a durable, all-in-one vehicle terminal for fleet management, asset management, and Electronic Logging (ELD) applications. With a 7-inch procap display, various OS choices, and substantial onboard wired and wireless connectivity, the MT7000 is suitable for all sorts of dispatch systems, asset and fleet management applications, diagnostic monitoring systems, as well as vehicle navigation and tracking metrics. [See description, analysis and specs of the Ubiqconn MT7000] -- Posted Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Getac scores record high September revenuesDigiTimes reports that Getac Technology reported consolidated revenues of US$67 million for September 2016, increasing 18.22% on month and 34.9% on year. Revenues for the third quarter of 2016 increased 13.2% sequentially and 15.8% on year to a record high US$170 million. Accumulated 2016 revenues through September totaled US$458 million, growing 8.51% on year. DigiTimes mentioned that Getac rugged notebooks have found their way into the military units in the Netherlands, pushing sales in September. -- Posted Monday, October 17, 2016

GammaTech reloads its fully rugged DURABOOK R8300 notebookGammaTech announced it has taken a major step in updating both technology and security of its DURABOOK R8300 fully rugged notebook. The unit, designed for deployment in the most extreme applications and environments, is now available with Intel "Sky Lake" 6th generation Core processors and related technology, Windows 10 Professional, as well as faster and higher capacity RAM and mass storage. Unchanged is the unit's exceptional and extensively field-tested toughness and durability, allowing it to operate in the harshest conditions, from scorching-hot deserts to freezing terrains, stealth missions to an active combat zone. [See GammaTech USA media release and RuggedPCReview's description, analysis and specs of the DURABOOK R8300] -- Posted Sunday, October 16, 2016

Janam and IntelliTrack partner to deliver intuitive inventory management solutionsJanam Technologies announced that Janam’s XT2 rugged touch computer has been certified to run IntelliTrack’s Stratus Mobile for Android application which, combined with the Stratus cloud-based desktop application, offers customers a powerful, easy-to-use inventory control solution. Doug Lloyd, Janam VP of Global Sales Operations, said, “Inventory is one of the largest expenses for many of our customers. We are thrilled that our partnership with IntelliTrack will enable our customers to significantly reduce these costs with a robust and affordable solution that provides real-time visibility to inventory levels and enables organizations to make smarter decisions about their business.” [See Janam media release] -- Posted Friday, October 14, 2016

MobileDemand: Rugged Surface cases flying off the shelfMobileDemand reports that its rugged Surface cases, announced in February and shipping since April, have been selling at an incredible rate. Watch the video below which shows the rapid adoption nationwide of the new Surface cases. Equipped with multiple hand straps for easy carrying, an easel for any-angle viewing and protected ports, the rugged cases are ideal for mobile, enterprise operations. MobileDemand offers protective cases for the Surface Pro 4 and Surface 3 and were engineered as a participant in the Microsoft Designed for Surface Program. [See MobileDemand blog entry and Surface Case installed base video -- Posted Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Bristol Township Police Department chooses Xplore rugged tablets to replace Panasonic Toughbooks in patrol cars, fieldXplore Technologies announced that the Bristol Township Police Department in Pennsylvania has chosen to standardize on Xplore R12 rugged tablet PCs after nearly 15 years of cycling through fast failing notebooks and other mobile devices that proved unfit for public safety’s extreme daily operating environments. Just one-third of the way through its full fleet upgrade to the R12, local law enforcement officers already boast about the rugged tablet’s uninterrupted 4G LTE, Wi-Fi and satellite GPS connectivity as they transition from the station to the patrol car and into the field for incident response and investigation. [See Xplore media release] and Not Missing a Beat case study] -- Posted Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Getac releases next-generation, higher-resolution body-worn camera for law enforcement for its Veretos systemGetac introduced its next-gen Getac Veretos Body Worn Camera (BWC) for law enforcement. With one of the smallest and lightest designs in the industry, it delivers 130-degree panoramic 480p to 1080p video, even in low light conditions. Incorporating a wide range of communication features and up to 12 hours of full-shift battery life, the camera provides law enforcement with complete situational awareness in critical scenarios while its intuitive design makes the process of starting, stopping, and streaming video push-button easy. [See Getac media release and Getac Veretos product page] -- Posted Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Avalue and Bytec announce IP67-sealed mobile power solutionAvalue Technology’s healthcare alliance partner Bytec Healthcare released their G2 Geni-Tec Mobile Power solution for use in healthcare environments. Bytec seeks to "mobilize healthcare" by bringing reliable and safe mobile power solutions to hospitals, integrators and medical device manufacturers. The G2 Battery Modules use the latest in Nickel Manganese Cobalt battery technology built into a compact, lightweight and IP67-sealed design. With a capacity of up to 216 Wh, the battery modules can be hot-swapped for continuous24/7/365 power. [See Avalue media release and Geni-Tec product page] -- Posted Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Lenovo to take over Fujitsu's PC unit?Fujitsu was once a global top-5 PC maker, and we still fondly remember Fujitsu's pioneering work in industrial and enterprise tablets well before Microsoft "invented" the Tablet PC. But that was then and this is now. While still having sold 4 million PCs last year, the Fujitsu PC unit is losing money and is said to be in talks to sell the unit to Lenovo, which is the world's #1 PC seller. -- Posted Friday, October 7, 2016

MilDef Group Acquires Amrel's rugged product linesLocated in El Monte, California, AMREL’s Computer Division has been a long-standing, player in the rugged computers market, providing COTS, modified COTS, and customized rugged solutions to Defense, Industrial, and Public Safety sector for the past 30+ years. MilDef assumes AMREL’s role and continues to market, sell, and service AMREL’s clientele with its complete range of rugged products’ portfolio. Edward Chen, CEO of AMREL Group, states, “MilDef and AMREL have been partners for over two decades and this acquisition is a natural fit and the synergy is apparent." -- Posted Thursday, October 6, 2016

Leidos chooses rugged computer server from Crystal Group for front-line SIGINT system Systems integrators at Leidos in Reston, Va., needed rugged computer servers for a tactical real-time signals intelligence (SIGINT) system. They found their solution from Crystal Group in Hiawatha, Iowa.Leidos officials say they are choosing the Crystal RS378 3U rugged server for the Leidos eXpeditionary RT (XRT) system that is designed to distil real-time context-sensitive situational awareness information from vast quantifies and disparate sources of data. "We were looking for a ruggedized platform that is scalable to our application and to industry standards," says Matthew Smith, senior program manager at the Leidos office in Columbia, Md. "Crystal was very open to systems engineering based on our needs." -- Posted Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Xplore: With Android for Work, rugged tablets will work betterXplore points out that stock Android isn't necessarily very suitable for work, but Android for Work is (See What is Android for Work?), and that requires the presence of certain APIs. Xplore says that Android devices intended for work *should* be certified to support the standard Google APIs required for Mobile Device Management (MDM) or Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) solutions to do their job. Such solutions provide the critical software infrastructure that organizations of all sizes, and across all industries, require on their mobile devices . And MDM/EMM solutions from MobileIron, SOTI, and AirWatch by VMWare all leverage Android for Work middleware to provide the security and device management that enable workers’ Android mobile devices to be safe and up-to-date. [See Xplore's With Android for Work, Your Rugged Tablets Will Work Better for You] -- Posted Friday, September 30, 2016

A good thing to peruse: Microsoft's support lifecycle for embedded systemsWhen it comes to operating systems, the end of what Microsoft calls mainstream and extended support doesn't necessarily mean people will stop using them. One in ten PC users is still on Windows XP, and nearly half are still on Windows 7. It's a bit different in industrial and enterprise applications where service and support can be big issues. So on the handheld systems side of things, mainstream for Windows Embedded CE 6.0 ended 4/9/2013 and extended support will end 4/10/2018. And for Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 mainstream support ended 1/13/2015, and extended support will end 1/14/2020. [See detailed list of Microsoft's embedded systems support lifecycles] -- Posted Friday, September 30, 2016

Full review: Handheld Nautiz X2 rugged mobile Android deviceThe global demand for smartphone-like handhelds with industrial durability and data collection capabilities is on the rise. These devices look and work like modern smartphones, but are far more durable and won't break on the job. RuggedPCReview tested the Handheld Group's Nautiz X2, and found it to be a practical solution for anyone who needs contemporary Android smartphone functionality at work and in the field. With a footprint roughly the same as that of the iPhone 7 Plus, the attractively styled Nautiz X2 remains manageable in size and weight, and is rugged enough to be used in any environment. [See full review of the Handheld Group Nautiz X2] -- Posted Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Coastal Pipco improves inventory management with Janam mobile computersJanam Technologies LLC, announced that Coastal Pipco, a wholesale distributor for agriculture and landscape irrigation systems, is using XM5 rugged mobile computers from Janam to improve inventory management and sales operations. With its focus on delivering superior customer service, Coastal Pipco worked closely with systems integrator RedLine Solutions to choose a rugged device that will mobilize its workforce, reduce manual data entry and maximize return on investment. Janam’s XM5 was selected because it is powerful, easy-to-use and affordable. [See Janam media release] -- Posted Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Universal Stylus Initiative releases Specification 1.0 The Universal Stylus Initiative (USI) has announced the availability of the USI 1.0 Stylus and Device Specification that provides independent hardware vendors (IHVs) and OEMs for the first time an industry standard, non-proprietary, active stylus protocol. This will enable a new generation of active styluses that allow a consistent, customizable and interoperable experience across make, model and form-factor. The USI 1.0 Specification also enables new usages for active styluses, such as multiple styluses operating simultaneously on a single device. The USI spec can be implemented on a wide range of touch-enabled devices, including phones, tablets, computing and entertainment platforms. [See USI media release and RuggedPCReview's What led to the Universal Stylus Initiative] -- Posted Monday, September 26, 2016

20 years of ToughbooksBack in late 1997 we reviewed the Panasonic CF-01 tablet and wondered "while other notebooks carry noble, descriptive designations like "ThinkPad" or "PowerBook," ... for Panasonic it's all CF." In 2002 RuggedPCReview EIC Conrad Blickenstorfer wrote "Tough as Nails — Panasonic's Toughbooks, A High Tech Success Story" after a trip to Panasonic's facilities in Japan. He reported how 1996 was a milestone for Panasonic, with an order from Lucent for 7,000 Panasonic CF-25s. Though the CF-25 didn't carry the Toughbook logo, it really was the first of what would later become the storied Toughbook line. So that makes it 20 years. Congratulations are in order. -- Posted Monday, September 26, 2016

Xplore Technologies gets additional ultra-rugged tablet order for ongoing U.S. military projectXplore Technologies announced a $1.1 million follow-on order for customized XC6 M2 tablet computers (see our review of the iX104 XC6). This order is the latest in a multi-year, multi-million-dollar mobility project begun with the United States military in 2012. With this most recent order, Xplore’s total revenue for this project stands at more than $10 million to date. [See Xplore media release] -- Posted Monday, September 26, 2016

Genilink awards mobile computing contract to JanamJanam Technologies announced that its XT2 Rugged Touch Computer beat 12 competitive devices from eight mobile computing companies to win a multi-year supply agreement with GENILINK, a subsidiary of SGS, the world’s leading automotive inspection, certification and testing company. GENILINK will deploy more than 3,000 XT2 rugged mobile computers from Janam to improve its vehicle inspection processes. Playing a critical role in road safety and environmental protection, the company sought a rugged mobile solution that could provide maximum uptime, reliability and accuracy. [See Janam media release] -- Posted Monday, September 26, 2016

VIA releases rugged Android-based ARTiGO A830 for urban IoT deployments VIA Technologies unveiled its newAndroid-based VIA ARTiGO A830 system for "streetwise" IoT deployments such as smart lockers, smart vending machines, and smart information kiosks and signage. With a ruggedized enclosure, wide operating temperature range of -4°F ~ 140°F, and surge and lightning protection, the system has been designed to deliver 24/7 reliability in even the most demanding outdoor environments. [See VIA media release and ARTiGO product page] -- Posted Monday, September 26, 2016

Intel small devices CPU: back to the past?Back in April 2016, Intel cancelled its "Broxton"successor to the X86-based Atom "Cherry Trail" line of smartphone-class processors (see AnandTech article). That seemed the end of Intel's low-end mobile device efforts. But would Intel get an ARM license instead? Apparently not out of the question (see Sep 19 PCWorld). Which is interesting, as Intel once bought the then-formidable StrongARM processor business from the old Digital Equipment Corporation. StrongARM chips were used in the Apple Newton among many others. Intel went on to launch the next-gen StrongARM — XScale — in 2000. XScale-based PXA processors became the default go-to chip for virtually all Pocket PCs and industrial handhelds. In 2006, Intel sold XScale to Marvell, which, however, quickly lost the handheld processor segment to QualComm, Samsung, nVidia and such. So we may yet see Intel back in the ARM business. -- Posted Monday, September 26, 2016

If you are a vendor or developer and would like for RuggedPCReview to announce and carry your news, tech articles, white papers, videos, tutorials or other pertaining content contact us.

About RuggedPCReview

The editor and co-founder of Pen Computing Magazine launched RuggedPCReview.com late 2005 as a website dedicated to providing news and information about rugged mobile computer technology and its applications. The site aims to be an industry clearinghouse for rugged
computing equipment hardware reviews as well as an information source on rugged computing terminology, definitions, testing, and enabling technologies.

"Over the many years that we have been testing and reviewing rugged mobile computers, and in our professional careers prior, we have noticed that there is very little standardization and that potential clients are often confused where and what to buy," said Dr. Conrad H. Blickenstorfer, Editor-in-Chief of RuggedPCReview.com and former CIO of the New York State Dormitory Authority. "We hope that our new service will answer many questions and provide all the answers a client needs to make an informed decision."